April 21 'Hook to the Liver' from WBC President Sulaiman

Fight Network Staff / April 24, 2013 - 3:54pm

The following is one of the weekly "Hook to the Liver" columns that are published in El Universal every Sunday. From April 21, translated from Spanish:

HOOK TO THE LIVERBy José Sulaimán

Our Changing World

In Boston, bombs explode at the end of Marathon, causing deaths and grievous injuries. Security systems astonish the world after President Obama's strong statements. In just four days the murderers are discovered, among multitudes. One died, the other was found and taken prisoner. The gunned down - a pure-blooded, highly-charged message. The other to prison, and then on to the courts of law. This shows the world the two sides of the coin.

Around the same time, there was an explosion in Waco, Texas, with injuries and destruction. Another revolt in Egypt and Syria, with yet more dead.

While all of this was happening, in Mexico I could not change my flight. All planes were full, the hotel also booked solid. 50,000 tickets have been sold in the Alamodome, in San Antonio, Texas. WBC champion Canelo Alvarez is poised to fight WBA champion Austin Trout and yet, a section of the press still harbors lingering doubts about the Mexican champion's rivals.

But this fight aroused huge interest among the public and the Mexican press. Promoters expected an entry through the turnstiles of 15,000 spectators. But in the event, there were 50,000 and so, a section of the stadium that had been closed off had to be opened up!

This fight was dubbed the consecration of Canelo if he won, and I truly believed he would. Trout, a boxer with a sculpted body, blistering hand speed and dextrous gifts boxing backwards and sideways, could give the Mexican idol difficulties for around about three rounds.

Yet with an ingrained, insistent, go-forward style and solid punching, covering all escape exits for rivals, the red-haired fighter would would tenaciously wear down Trout with a hard grind. I hope that the facts haven't obscured the talker? In boxing there is logic, and also numbers. But nothing is permanently written in the sand, and one punch can change everything.

Mexican boxing, and especially the World Boxing Council, goes through days of great intensity. Last week we had two memorable fights.

Mexican Tomas Rojas knocked out Filipino Jaderes Padua in a blitz during which not a single second elapsed without punches thrown. Also, Julio Cesar Miranda and Juan Jose Montes staged a fight that ended in a thrilling draw.

This last weekend, the long expected defense of Canelo against Trout. And on that very same day, Mexico's Robinson Castellanos - number two in the world - battled against the esthete of the ring and number one, Celestino Caballero in Panama.

At the end of this week, great middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, will defend his title against Englishman Martin Murray. In Los Angeles, Mexican Chris Arreola, number one in the heavyweight division, faces the final eliminator against Silver Champion and number two in the division, Bermane Stivern.

Still in this very same week in New York, Danny Garcia is defending the WBC super lightweight title against Zab Judah. And to almost close this firepower circle, involving a glittering array of great WBC title fights - in Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather, Diamond Champion, fights Robert Guerrero for the WBC welterweight title.

With a magnificent flourish, on that same card two Mexicans contest the featherweight title: WBC world champion Daniel Ponce de Leon fights former super bantamweight champion Abner Mares.

The members of the World Council are deeply proud of this incredible number of superlative quality title fights, involving the great champions of the moment.